The e-grader in action, sorting cell phones. Phones with low value will pass to scrap while phones that still have a value as reused or refurbished will be sorted in separate grade fractions.

Refind e-grader

The e-grader from Refind Technologies has the unique ability to grade and sort used electronic products based on its current value and optimal downstream.

By determining make and model for each product in realtime, the system can not only tell whether it’s good for reuse, refurbishment or recycling. It also lists the product in optimal fractions making them instantly available for trading, either directly with customers or through digital marketplaces.

All are winners with the e-grader. Collectors and ITADs can increase the yield from current streams while the access to realtime price data provides new possibilities for incentive-based collection. Reuse and refurbishment companies profit from better quality and less waste. Not to mention that the e-grader can be used for efficient pre-sorting of large volumes of phones, tablets etc.

Dynamic data

By logging each sale made through the e-grader and combine it with external sources of information, a dynamic price model is built in the system. It's this system that tells to which grade fraction the phones will be sent. The system can also be programmed to send all phones from a particular brand to one fraction or with special features such as when it was put on the market, network options or attractiveness in a particular country. Material with low reuse values can also be sorted based on optimal recovery option.

The lists for each grade can automatically be exported to either a marketplace for trading or as file to forward to current trading partners.

Cell phones and beyond

The e-grader can be used for any kind of material stream that fits the size limits of 400 by 400 mm. While the first database in full scale is for cell phones and other mobile electronics smaller tests with very good results have been done with printed circuit boards, rechargeable batteries and mixed electronic scrap.

The e-grader in Refind's facility. With five fractions it has a capacity to sort more than 2000 objects per hour in three to five different grades. The footprint is about 6 x 2 meters (18 x 6 feet) including fractions.

No upfront investment - no downside

The e-grader equipment can be rented by customers with descent volumes of material or with a clear plan for growth in the actual material segment. The rent is based on the value created through the upgrading of products from scrap to reuse.